Wayne Pivac, the former Wales head coach with a rich coaching background in New Zealand and abroad, has thrown his weight behind New Zealand Rugby’s (NZR) staunch policy of not selecting overseas-based players for the All Blacks. This comes amidst ongoing debates and contrasting policies from other rugby nations.
NZR has long resisted the temptation to open up All Blacks selection to the diaspora of talent scattered across foreign leagues, offering sabbaticals instead as a compromise. This method allows seasoned players like Rieko Ioane and Ardie Savea to have brief spells abroad with teams like Leinster and Kobe Steelers, before returning to New Zealand.
Speaking to DSPN with Martin Devlin, Pivac commented on the policy,
“Look, these sabbaticals are being taken now for quite a number of years. The likes of Ali Williams, Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, have been released to do what they need to do overseas, make a bit of extra money, whatever it might be. But because of their service, they’ve been allowed to do that.”
He added that while the financial incentives abroad are significant, opening the floodgates could drain local talent and be "disastrous for the local rugby scene."
Pivac's endorsement comes in contrast to former All Blacks coach Scott Robertson, who initially pushed for more flexible eligibility rules before his departure from the coaching role in 2025. Meanwhile, other rugby nations have shifted policies; Rugby Australia recently abolished their ‘Giteau Law’, allowing a broader selection of overseas players to don national colors, similar to SA Rugby’s inclusive approach.
The Welsh Rugby Union operates under a 25-cap rule to manage their overseas players, a strategy aimed at retaining domestic talent by requiring a substantial international career before allowing expatriates to represent Wales.
Pivac, with his extensive experience, emphasized the importance of each country evaluating its unique circumstances. He remarked,
“It’s an interesting one, but each country’s got to look at it on its merits, really. And it’s something that, no doubt, gets asked a lot.”
In the high-stakes world of international rugby, the tug-of-war between maintaining a competitive national team and the lure of lucrative overseas contracts continues to spark debate, with NZR holding firm on their ground for now.
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Wayne Pivac, the former Wales head coach with a rich coaching background in New Zealand and abroad, has thrown his weight behind New Zealand Rugby’s (NZR) staunch policy of not selecting overseas-based players for the All Blacks. This comes amidst ongoing debates and contrasting policies from other rugby nations.
NZR has long resisted the temptation to open up All Blacks selection to the diaspora of talent scattered across foreign leagues, offering sabbaticals instead as a compromise. This method allows seasoned players like Rieko Ioane and Ardie Savea to have brief spells abroad with teams like Leinster and Kobe Steelers, before returning to New Zealand.
Speaking to DSPN with Martin Devlin, Pivac commented on the policy,
“Look, these sabbaticals are being taken now for quite a number of years. The likes of Ali Williams, Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, have been released to do what they need to do overseas, make a bit of extra money, whatever it might be. But because of their service, they’ve been allowed to do that.”
He added that while the financial incentives abroad are significant, opening the floodgates could drain local talent and be "disastrous for the local rugby scene."Pivac's endorsement comes in contrast to former All Blacks coach Scott Robertson, who initially pushed for more flexible eligibility rules before his departure from the coaching role in 2025. Meanwhile, other rugby nations have shifted policies; Rugby Australia recently abolished their ‘Giteau Law’, allowing a broader selection of overseas players to don national colors, similar to SA Rugby’s inclusive approach.
The Welsh Rugby Union operates under a 25-cap rule to manage their overseas players, a strategy aimed at retaining domestic talent by requiring a substantial international career before allowing expatriates to represent Wales.
Pivac, with his extensive experience, emphasized the importance of each country evaluating its unique circumstances. He remarked,
“It’s an interesting one, but each country’s got to look at it on its merits, really. And it’s something that, no doubt, gets asked a lot.”
In the high-stakes world of international rugby, the tug-of-war between maintaining a competitive national team and the lure of lucrative overseas contracts continues to spark debate, with NZR holding firm on their ground for now.